Exercising-machine



(No Model.)A 3 Sheets-Sheet; l.

J. STRONG.

BXBRGISING MACHINE.

Patented Deo. 11,1894.

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EXERGISING MACHINE.

' s sheets-sheet 2.

(No Model.)

Patented Deo. 11,1894.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. STRONG.

EXERGISING MACHINE.

No. 530,669. Patented Deo. 11,1894.

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JULIA STRONG, OF BROOKLYN, NEV YORK.

EXERCISING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 530,669, dated December 11, 1894.

Application filed September 21, 1894. Serial No. 523.756. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JULIA STRONG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements-in Hand-Exercising Apparatus, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for exercising the fingers, hands and forearms of piano players and pupils, typewriters, and others using the fingers of the hand for the operation of machines employing key boards. Such exercising apparatus should be simple in construction,so that it and its uses may be readily understood as well by children as by adults. It should be attractive in appearance so as to interest a child and create in him a desire to use it and thus render the presence of an instructor during the use of it by the child unnecessary. It should be comparatively inexpensive so that one such apparatus may be set apart for each user, and thus render unnecessary repeated adjustments for different users; and it should, moreover, be of such size and of such material as to adapt it to be carried in the pocket of the user to be taken out by him and used as occasion oered.

The apparatus heretofore used, while eective for the purpose intended, are objectionable, rst, because of their complexity, which is confusing to a child and which necessitates the constant presence of the instructor during the practice exercises of a pupil; second, because of their bulkiness which renders them unportable and limits the use of the apparatus to such times only as the user is at the place where it is located, and, third, because of their cost, which places them beyond the means of many and which as a consequence compels the use of asingle apparatus for several persons and frequent adjustments of such apparatus to adapt it to the age and physical development of the dilerent users.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an exercising apparatus having the advantages before referred to, and to that end the invention consists of such an apparatus comprising a supporting table, a series of elastic bands varying in strength adapted to be connected to said support, and an inelastic band of flexible material for the fingers, hand and forearm capable of being connected to said elastic bands and detached therefrom as desired, the table and its connection being of compact form so that they may be conveniently carried in the pocket of the user.

As a full understanding of the invention can best be given by a detailed description of an organization embodying the same, such description will now be given in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of an exercising apparatus embodying the improvements of the present invention, the same illustrating the use of the apparatus in exercising the fingers to develop the extensor and Iiexor muscles. Fig. 2 is a cross section of the same taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l Fig. 3

.is a view illustrating the apparatus used for the purpose of stretching the ligaments between the knuckles by spreading the fingers apart. Fig. 4 illustrates a method of adjusting the resistance'to be exerted upon the member exercised which will be hereinafter referred to. Fig. 5 illustrates another form of exercise for the fingers which may be performed with this apparatus. Fig. 6 is a side View of a modification which will be hereinafter described. Fig. 7 is a central sectional view of the same.

Referring to said drawings, a represents a table of suitable material, preferably hard wood highly polished so that it will present an attractive appearance, and of such size as to enable it to be placed in the pocket of the user. The table a is provided with screw holes for receiving screws b for connecting it to a stationary support for the apparatus, although any other s'uitable means, as clamps, may be employed for securing it, or such means may be entirely dispensed with and the table held in place, as it will be in traveling, by one hand while the other is being exercised. The table ct is provided with a catch c preferably hinged thereto at one end, as shown at d, and detachably connected to the table at its other end by a screw nut e engaginga screw f projecting upwardly from the table and passing through an opening in the end of the catch. The catch is supported IOO at a suitable distance from the table to receive endless rubber bands g, h,z',j, la# of various sizes and strength. Any desired number of such bands may be provided for each apparatus, and they may be strung together upon the catch 'c as shown, or be inclosed within a drawer m provided in the base for receiving them and removed therefrom as desired for use.

The apparatus is further provided with a flexible band n of inelastic material provided with a snap hook o for connecting it to the elastic bands g, h, &c. But one such band need be provided for each apparatus but the number may be increased if desired. The inelastic band n is of such size as to adapt it to receive, not only a linger or lingers, but also the entire hand or the wrist, so that this single band may be used for the several exercises of the lingers, wrist and forearm. The inelastic band n will also be of such Width as to provide a sufficiently broad bearing surface so as not to constrict the members to which it is applied in exercising.

The number of elastic bands g, h, Jac., pro` vided for each apparatus and the range of variation in strength of such bands will be sufficient to adapt the apparatus for use in exercising the muscles of the most delicate child and as well those of the most robust adult.

The manner of using the apparatus is as olloWs:-While the apparatus is not in use or is being carried in the pocket the elastic bands g, h, dto., and inelastic band n are contained in the drawer m. When it is desired to use the apparatus the band n and such of the bands g, h, duc., as it is intended to use in the exercises are removed from the drawer and the bands g, h, &c., removed strung together upon the catch c, as shown in Fig. 1, or singly as desired for use; the selection of the bands g, 71., &c., for use being made with reference to the physical development and age of the user and the members to be exercised. The band n is then connected successively to the dierent bands g, h, &c., and the members to be exercised inserted in order in the band n and moved up and down from the table a. For example, if the forefmger is to be exercised to strengthen the extensor and liexor muscles, the linger will be inserted in the band n so as to bring the latter over the third joint as shown in Fig. l, or the linger may be reversed and the tip of the finger inserted, with the palm of the hand upward, under the band 'n and moved up and down upon the hand, as shown in Fig. 5. Inexercising each of the fingers of the hand, the band 'n will be connected by its snap hook o to bands g, h, clac., of decreasing or increasing strength, according to the requirements of the member exercised; the weaker fingers being gradually strengthened until they equal in strength the stronger fingers of the hand. The several fingers may be exercised laterally so as to spread them apart to stretch the ligaments between the fingers by introducing the finger to be exercised into the band n and resting the lingers not being exercised upon the edge of a support p, as shown in Fig. 3, (the table a being supported by hand or otherwise below the support p) and moving the fingers exercised upwardly and downwardly toward the support p, as shown.

The wrist and forearm may be exercised also, in the usual Way, by using the same inelastic band n, which is made sufficiently large, as before stated, to receive the hand and forearm.

When the exercises' are finished the bands g, h, &c., and n are detached from the table a and placed in the drawer and the table a then placed in the pocket, if desired.

Variations in the resistance brought to bear upon the member exercised may also be produced by interposing between the elastic band connected to the catch c and the inelastic band n a second elastic band of less strength than that connected to the catch, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

It may in some cases, especially where but one inelastic band n is employed in the apparatus, be advisable to render this band adjustable so that the loop in which the linger or lingers are inserted may be increased and decreased in size, as desired. Such a construction is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 wherein the band n is provided at one end With a buckle q engaging the body of the band above the snap hook 0, by moving which buckle toward and from the snap hook the size of the loop for receiving the member or members to be exercised is increased or decreased. This is of particular advantage when the lingers are exercised as shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7, that is to say, with the under side of the tip of the finger in contact with the band fn, as in exercising a single linger, or even two fingers, by reducing the loop to just about the proper size to receive the fin ger or fingers, the latter can be retained more easily in proper position during the exercise against the band than they could be if the loop were used of the full size illustrated.

In Figs. 6 and 7 is illustrated an exercise similar to that illustrated in Fig. 5, except that here several ngers reversed are inserted in the loop of the band n for the purpose of exercising the fingers, the Wrist or the forearm. In such an exercise it is found that the band n in use has a tendency to crowd or bunch the lingers together. To avoid this I provide a plate r of rigid material against which the fingers will contact and having a recess at each end for receiving the band n and which, when in position holds the band n distended and out of contact with the iingers. The contact plate r will preferably be provided on its under side with a strip s of felt or similar soft material against which the tips of the lingers rest during the exercises.

This plate may also be stored in the receptacle m when the apparatus is not in use.

What is claimed isl. In an exercising apparatus, the combination of a supporting table, an elastic band, a catch for detachably connecting the band to the table, and a band of inelastic exible material adapted to be detachably connected to the elastic band, substantially as described.

2. In an' exercising apparatus, the combination of a su pportin g table, a plurality of elastic bands of varying strength,a catch common to and adapted to receive all of said bands for detachably connecting them to the table, and a band of inelastic flexible material adapted to be detachably connected to any of said elastic bands, substantially as described.

3. In an exercising apparatus, the combination of a supporting table, an elastic band, a catch for detachably connecting the band to the table, and a band of inelastic flexible material of a size adapting it to receive the hand and adapted to be detachably connected to the elastic band and provided with means for adjusting it to vary the size of the loop of the band, substantially as described.

4. In an exercising apparatus, the combination of a supporting table, an elastic band, a catch for detachably connecting the band to the table, a band of inelastic flexible material adapted to be detachably connected to the elastic band, and a substantially rigid contact plate adapted to be introduced into the loop of the band and to engage and distend the same, substantially as described.

5. The combination of table o, rubber elastic bands g, h, dac., catch c, inelastic band fn, and snap hook o, substantially as described.

6. The combination of table a, rubber elastic bands g, h, &c., catch c hinged to the table, nut e, inelastic band n, and snap hook o, substantially as described.

7. The combination of table a, rubber elastic bands g, 72, &c., catch c, inelastic band 'n provided with adjusting buckle q, and snap hook o, substantially as described.

In testimonywhereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

JULIA STRONG.

Witnesses:

J. J. KENNEY, T. F. KEHOE. 

